Artwork

Portrait of a man in profile, turned to the left

Portrait of a man in profile, turned to the left, by Simon Vouet, 1633
Portrait of a man in profile, turned to the left, by Simon Vouet, 1633

Portrait of a man in profile, turned to the left is a drawing by the Baroque artist Simon Vouet. It dates from 1633 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This drawing is a portrait of a man in profile, attributed to Simon Vouet. The work captures the sitter's likeness with a sense of spontaneity.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is likely a court advisor, characterized by his distinctive facial features, including deeply lined, almond-shaped eyes and unruly hair. His expression and pose convey a sense of informality.

Technique & Style

Vouet's portrait is executed with loose, expressive strokes, capturing the sitter's likeness with a naturalistic directness. The artist's style was influenced by his time in Rome, where he developed a more relaxed approach to portraiture.

Context

Vouet's return to Paris in 1627 marked a shift in French portraiture, as he introduced a more naturalistic mode of representation, diverging from the formal, stylized portraits that were prevalent at the time.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Simon Vouet

Artist

Simon Vouet

Simon Vouet (French pronunciation: ; 9 January 1590 – 30 June 1649) was a French painter who studied and rose to prominence in Italy before being summoned by Louis XIII to serve as Premier peintre du Roi in France.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.